The finest FIFA World Cup Finals

#3 Brazil vs Uruguay, 1950

Action during the 1950 World Cup final, in Rio de Janeiro

When you think of Brazil, one of the first things that come to your mind is football. To say that the Brazilian love for ‘jogo bonito’ or the beautiful game is well documented is an understatement. Their footballing success is arguably their biggest selling point - five triumphs and the sheer talent to come out of that nation testament to the previous statement.

Unsurprisingly, football is a source of massive pride in that part of the world, and rightly so. Hence, when Brazil waltzed their way into the final of the World Cup they were hosting in 1950, the whole country had already decided to party. The win against Uruguay that was needed to secure the trophy was reduced to a dead rubber; a mere formality, for Brazil had, in the eyes of the locals, already won.

When Brazil took the lead in the first half through Friaca, the Maracana erupted in joy. To Brazil, the game was over.

This general dismissive attitude the Brazilians had towards their fellow finalists inevitably fired up the latter, and soon, a resurgent Uruguay equalized in the second half to restore parity at 1-1 through Juan Schiaffino.

In those days, the World Cup only had a league stage where Brazil had, before the final, finished a point ahead of Uruguay. All the hosts, therefore, had to do was avoid defeat. With the scores at 1-1, Brazil would still be world champions. And they certainly were playing with the swagger befitting would be champions, passing the ball around nonchalantly and displaying outrageous skill in their moves.

In the 79th minute, Uruguay recovered the ball and launched a rare attack of their own. Alcides Ghiggia rampaged down the right wing, looking for teammates to pass the ball to. But with the Uruguayans refusing to commit men forward, Ghiggia was forced to continue his run all by himself. Without support, he decided to take a chance himself, and his low shot squirmed below Barbosa in the Brazilian goal to hand Uruguay an improbable 2-1 lead.

The hosts tried and tried in the last ten minutes but they couldn’t breach Uruguay’s defence, who held on for what still is one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

Out of the many Brazilians who burst into tears at full time, one went up to his son and explained the cause of his sorrow. We could’ve been the best in the World Cup, he explained to his 10-year-old. The son assured his grieving father that he would make Brazil the best team in the world.

Said son is today known to the world as Pele, and he won his father – and his compatriots – three such World Cups.